JCC gallery show looks at Jewish comedy duo

An exhibit focusing on the comedy duo Block and Sully opens Monday at the Jewish Community Center of Youngstown's Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation Art Gallery.

Jesse Block and Eva Sully were a Jewish husband-and-wife comedy team active in vaudeville and radio from 1926 to 1948. During World War II, the duo joined the USO and for three years entertained American troops all over the world.

This exhibition showcases historic publicity photographs from the famous entertainers, originally brought to Youngstown by native Rosemarie DeSalle, preserving a unique piece of entertainment history.

"Block and Sully" will be on display through Sept. 23 at the JCC gallery, 505 Gypsy Lane.

A reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

JCC also will host a companion event, "Block and Sully, On the Road Again," at 6 p.m. Aug. 11 that will include a screening of the 1934 Eddie Cantor/Ann Sothern/Ethel Merman film "Kid Millions," which includes a rare film appearance by the comedy duo.

For more information, go to

jccyoungstown.org.